(John 6: 47). The Word of God says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God." "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Him: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. These things, have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God" (I John 5: 1, 10).

The following pages are written, that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ may know that they are children of God; having now, everlasting life; and, therefore, they are told, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3: 18). And they are told how to grow. "As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Peter 2: 2).

Owing to the unfaithfulness of the elders or bishops, many flocks have been scattered and lost. As Paul told the elders of the Church of Ephesus should happen to that church (Acts 20: 28).

There is a lamentable ignorance of the Bible and its plain teachings among professing Christians. Many do not believe what the Bible says about the condition of all men by nature; about

the only way of salvation; and that a believer is saved. They do not believe what is written in the following pages. Although nearly all of them are extracts from the Bible. It will be well, for any who may read them, to stop now and then, and ask themselves, Does the Word of God say this? Do I believe it?

ALL MEN ARE SINNERS AND ARE LOST.

"There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Rom.

3: 10.

In the Bible we are told that, "Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psm. 14: 2). "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isai. 64: 6). "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8: 7). "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2: 14). "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17: 10). "From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7: 21). "As it is written, There is

none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Rom. 3: 10). "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight." "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3: 20, 23). Every man by nature is born a rebel, and continues in rebellion against God until he is converted. As a creature, he owes every instant love and obedience to his Creator. He is adding to his indebtedness to God every mo. ment of his existence. He can never pay any portion of that debt. His only hope is the forgiveness of sin in the way appointed by God, through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "He that believeth not, is condemned already" (John 3: 18). "He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3: 36).

None realise what they were by nature, more than the children of God do, when they are born again. Paul tells the "Saints in Ephesus," "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: *** and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2: 1, 3). And Paul, speaking of himself, says, "This

is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1: 15). "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Reader, do you believe what God says is the state of every man by nature? That it is your state; unless you have been convinced of sin by the Holy Spirit, and have been led to repent and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?